March 6, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, March 6, 2010

March 6, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 2:02 PM :: 7681 Views

LINK>>>Ousted Zoning Chair Rod Tam is secret partner in $1 Billion North Shore development hui

Lawmakers want to delay vote to replace Abercrombie (Fund unions before democracy)

Rep. James Tokioka, chairman of the House Legislative Management Committee, said at a hearing yesterday that constituents are asking him how the state can afford an election while cutting vital programs.

"I cannot believe that the governor is able to find $1 million for a special election and cannot find the money to maintain our social service programs," said Shimizu, executive director of the Hawaii chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. (Yep, you heard it. Unions are more important than democracy.)

But Deputy Attorney General Warren Suzuki testified the state would probably have been sued if election officials initially had chosen to consolidate the elections or if the state postpones the now-scheduled May 22 special election. The state would probably lose in either case, he added.

Further, restoring representation for first district constituents is the paramount legal concern, not financial considerations, he said.

"The train has left the station," Suzuki said. "The proclamation calling for the election has already been issued."

GOP Chairman Ka'auwai Responds to Legislative Hearing on Special Election for CD-1

HONOLULU—Hawai'i Republican Party Chairman Jonah Ka'auwai commented on the Committee of Legislative Management’s informational briefing today on the fiscal, procedural and logical impacts regarding the special election for Congressional District 1:

"Is a $1 million special election a lot money? Yes it is. But is the Congressional representation for half of Hawai'i a necessity? Absolutely.

"Democrats 'don't see the impact' of leaving this seat unrepresented for a full quarter of a Congressional term at this most critical juncture in our country. They attempt to champion fiscal accountability by questioning the necessity of a May special election, but still call for tax increases, raiding special funds and suspending tax credits in bills going through the legislature right now.

"The people of Hawai'i aren’t buying it. If Democrats want to show real fiscal accountability, they will work towards less government and put people before public union bosses."

New newspaper to be called Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Oahu Publications this week sought to register the name Honolulu Star-Advertiser with the business registration division of the state Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. Oahu Publications also registered the Internet domains www.star-advertiser.com and www.honolulustar-advertiser.com.

(Disappointing. We were holding out for: Hawaii Democrat Advertising Bulletin.)

ADV: Honolulu councilman Tam denies faking meal expense claims

"I admit that there were math errors," said Tam, while stressing he was not acknowledging any wrongdoing.

He said he's learned a valuable lesson in bookkeeping: "Never take the stubs from receipts, get the cash register receipts. That way, you don't make mistakes in terms of putting the wrong numbers in, and that's what I did."

This is typical damage control strategy, in this case aided and abetted by both newspapers. Make this scandal about receipts, stubs, and bookkeeping and suddenly it seems like nothing. Certainly nothing like THIS… Ousted Zoning Chair Rod Tam is secret partner in $1 Billion North Shore development hui

SB with More Excuses: Tam denies misuse of city funds

(more about bookkeeping and stubs and receipts from the SB followed by this…

Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto said the matter would be sent to the attorney general's office for review to determine whether Tam should face criminal charges. Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who normally would review Ethics Commission charges against Council members, said it would be "inappropriate" for his office to review the matter because he and Tam both are declared candidates for mayor.

(Carlisle shows the kind of ethics Tam does not have. But then who will be investigating?????)

REALITY: Ousted Zoning Chair Rod Tam is secret partner in $1 Billion North Shore development hui

PBN: Make Hawai`i government efficient, don't raise taxes

Keeping too many horses in the barn and asking taxpayers to feed them just won’t cut it.

SB: City budget is frugal, but tax hike may hit renters

Hannemann said the higher rate is directed at investors and other high-income property owners.

The administration should determine how many of those properties belong to apartment owners who are likely to pass on the increased tax to renters, those most vulnerable to tax increases during a recession. The mayor said the new tax bracket would result in monthly increases of 49 cents per thousand dollars evaluation for a single-family home and 25 cents for a typical condominium owner.

Overall, Hannemann's budget plan is frugal (well except for that little $2B choochoo thingy), which is necessary because of the economy. However, a closer look is needed at the new property tax of nonoccupants before the Council gives its needed approval.

Convicted: Karen Ertell's Murderer Faces Life In Prison Without Parole

Ertell's foster daughter believes Bartley is not capable of reform and deserves to stay behind bars for the rest of his life.

"If he is released he will just do it again. He's shown no remorse. He's not taken any responsibility. ...I just don't see him as someone who can be reformed," said Malanie McLellan.

A jury will decide if Bartley will be sent to prison without parole.

Prosecutors said they will push for a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Bartley's sentencing date is scheduled for May 3.

ADV: A new form of reefer madness?

The Senate has passed bills that would loosen things up for marijuana users, one way or another.

SB 2213, to allow counties to license medical marijuana dispensaries
SB 2141, to increase the amounts allowed under current medical marijuana law
SB 2450, to remove criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and replace them with civil fines.

These dispensaries have proven to be a regulatory headache for California. Here's just one piece from the ongoing news chronicles: Medical marijuana advocates sue Los Angeles

2 State Procurement Web sites hacked

State Comptroller Russ Saito said the Web sites were hacked earlier this week by someone in Romania….Thousands of visitors use the two Web sites run by the state Procurement Office and the Department of Human Services. Both sites are used to post notices of contract awards. The sites will be running again following security software upgrades and the issuance of new user names and passwords, Saito said.

(Or was it a Romanian proxy?)

Carlsmith Ball sued $25M for conflict of interest

In the lawsuit, the families claim that Carlsmith continued to represent them only to sell them out to benefit and further the interests of the firm’s larger Japanese client, Kinki Nippon Tourist, the international investment firm of Morgan Stanley, which was negotiating with Kinki Nippon to buy the hotel, and Mitsubishi Securities, which was serving as agent for Kinki Nippon on the deal.

The families claim that Carlsmith’s lawyers “pushed through the transaction over the objection of minority shareholders, who they also represented, without disclosing the true facts and circumstances, knowing that the minority shareholders’ holdings would be rendered almost worthless by the transaction.”

Maui County to enter settlement talks with Molokai Ranch

After competing OHA gangs destroyed Molokai Ranch, Maui County is picking over the bones looking for meat.

Maui Lani developer wins costs tied to trial

In a separate case, August ordered the county not to issue building permits that conflict with the 1991 building height ordinance. That law limits residential building heights

to 30 feet above the natural or finished grade, whichever is lower.

August ruled that former Mayor Alan Arakawa exceeded his authority when he exempted the Fairways and New Sand Hills developments from the height ordinance and allowed the projects to proceed under the old law that measured building height from the finished grade.

Officials discuss bag ban slated in January: Maui County businesses remain wary of costs

Representatives from retail stores such as Safeway, Foodland and Pukalani Superette, said that although the plastic bag ban was approved in August 2008, the county hasn't made much of an effort until now to let them know how it works.

They also complained about a lack of conforming bags on the market, with a couple of them deadpanning about the "bag police" coming to get them. Even when recycled paper bags are available, the bags tend to cost several more cents each than their plastic predecessors, which adds up pretty fast, the business representatives said last week.

When Jan. 11 rolls around, no businesses will be able to provide plastic bags to customers at the point of sale for people to transport goods or groceries home or anywhere else, according to Ordinance No. 3587.

The only exception is if the plastic bag is made of reusable and durable materials, such as a mix of washable cloth or recycled plastic. Dozens of Maui County stores sell or give away reusable bags already.

Under the law, restaurants and grocery and department stores can send their customers home with paper bags, just as long as those paper bags are made out of 40 percent recycled paper or more and all of them can be recycled.

Ordinance: www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=742

REALITY: Hint to Hawaii: Plastic Bag Ban overturned by Calif. court -- no EIS

Wind farm developer gets loan guarantee

A Mainland wind farm developer has received a $117 million federal loan guarantee to pay for construction of its planned Kahuku project on Oahu.

First Wind, based in Boston, announced the award Friday from the U.S. Department of Energy. It will use the financing to install 12 wind turbines that ~~will~~ would generate a total of 30 megawatts of electricity if they operated at capacity, which they don’t — enough to power approximately ~~7,700~~ 0 Oahu homes although the intermittent and dwindling wind generated electricity will cause lots of headaches for engineers who have to constantly fire up and shut down traditional diesel plants. The power will be sold to Hawaiian Electric Co., but only because HECO is being allowed to jack up rates to consumers.

REALITY: Wind Energy's Ghosts, Molokai Ranch: Protesters to Cash in with Takeover Plan?

Rep. Massa's Early Exit From House May Ease Passage of Health Care Bill (NY Democrat Rep. sacrificed because of Abercrombie?)

Normally the Dems would have swept this little gay sex harassment deal under the carpet. Especially since the GOP is poised to take the seat in any special election. But Massa voted against Obamacare, so Pelosi’s agents have shown him the door. With Massa out of office and the seat still vacant during the Obamacare vote, that means one less vote Pelosi needs to get for socialist medicine. So it seems that this poor little fun-loving NY Congressional Democrat has been sacrificed on the altar of Neil Abercrombie’s ambition.

Republican who will likely take NY Dist: http://www.tomreedforcongress.com/donations/